Bridle-bit



(No Model.)

J. B. MQNAIR.

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 453,846. Patented June 9,1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTORZ UNiTnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

J ONAS B. )ICNAIR, OF IVILLOIV HILL, ILLINOIS BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,846, dated June 9, 1891.

Application filed September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,347. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JONAS B. llICNAIR, a citi' zen of the United States, and a resident of \Villow Hill, in the county of Jasper and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bridle-Bits; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bridle-bits for horses.

The object of the invention is to provide a bridle-bit wit-h a spring or yielding connection to which the reins are secured, whereby injury to the mouth of the horse is prevented by a sudden pull on the reins, or by a stumble or fall on the part of the horse. This yielding connection is also so arranged and located with respect to the chains of a curbbit that the curb will not act under ordinary circumstances; but when a horse becomes vicious a stronger pull upon the reins will overcome the tension of the yielding connection and cause the curb to be applied and act upon the mouth.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claim.

The accompanying drawing represents a perspective view of an ordinary curb-bit constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the said drawing, the reference-numeral 1 designates the cheek-pieces, having eyes 2 for the cheek-straps and at their lower ends eyes 3 for the curb-chains.

4C designates the ordinary mouth piece. Secured to each cheek-piece is a coiled spring 5 by means of the eyes 6, through which one end of said springs is passed and fastened. At the other end the springs are secured to the reins 7 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a ring 8, attached to the reins.

9 designates the curb-chains secured at one end to the lower ends of the cheek-pieces and at their other ends to the rings 8.

These chains are somewhat longer than the springs, so that they will not come into action until the springs have become distended so as to equal them in length. The length of the springs should be about four inches; but of course this can be varied as may be found desirable, and their tension should be such as to resist from eight to fifteen pounds traction.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. When used with a gentle horse, an ordinary snaiiie-bit maybe employed,and in case of asudden pull or jerk upon the reins by a stumble, fall, or other cause, the strain is applied gradually by means of the spring connection, so that the mouth of the horse is not injured. hen used with a vicious horse, a curbbit is employed with the curbchains connected with the reins. In this case the curb is not brought into action until the tension of the springs is overcome, as will be evident.

There are other advantages secured by my invention which will be obvious, and which therefore need not be enumerated here.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is The combination, with the cheek-pieces l 1, having eyes 2 2 at their upper ends and eyes 3 3 at their lower ends, and connected through their enlarged middle portions by the transverse mouth-piece 4, of the coiled springs 5 5, connected to the eyes 6 6 of the enlarged portions of said cheek-pieces, and connected also to the rings 8 8 and the curb-chains 9 9, the latter being connected at their lower ends to the eyes 3 3 at the lower ends of the cheekpieces and connected at their upper ends to rings 8 8, attached to the rear ends of the coil springs 5 5, said chains and springs being detachable at one end, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JONAS B. MoNAIR.

Witnesses:

D. K. MCNAIR, A. L. MUoHMonn. 

